Detection apparatus and display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A detection apparatus includes a substrate, a display area, a peripheral area, a plurality of electrodes, a plurality of terminals, a first wire, and a second wire. The display area is provided on the surface of the substrate. The peripheral area is provided outside the display area. The electrodes are provided to the display area. The terminals are provided in correspondence with the respective electrodes in the peripheral area. The first wire couples an electrode to a terminal. The second wire couples the electrode to the terminal to which the first wire is coupled.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Application No.2016-206863, filed on Oct. 21, 2016 and Japanese Application No.2016-218802, filed on Nov. 9, 2016, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a detection apparatus and a displayapparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Touch detection apparatuses capable of detecting an external proximityobject, what are called touch panels, have recently been attractingattention. Touch panels are mounted on or integrated with a displayapparatus, such as a liquid crystal display apparatus, and used asdisplay apparatuses with a touch detection function. Detectionelectrodes and drive electrodes of the touch panels are coupled toterminals via wires. The terminals are coupled to a flexible substrate.The wires may possibly be broken due to a small width. By coupling wiresto both ends of the detection electrodes (refer to Japanese PatentApplication Laid-open Publication No. 2010-39816 (JP-A-2010-39816), forexample), coupling of the detection electrodes to the flexible substratecan be secured with one of the wires even when the other thereof isbroken.

As described in JP-A-2010-39816 however, an increase in the number ofwires coupled to the detection electrodes and the drive electrodesincreases the number of terminals that couple the wires to the flexiblesubstrate. In addition, a plurality of wires coupled to one electrodeneed to be electrically coupled in the flexible substrate. With thisconfiguration, a multilayered flexible substrate is required, and thewires are coupled in a grade separation manner in the flexiblesubstrate. As a result, the cost may possibly increase.

SUMMARY

A detection apparatus according to one aspect includes a substrate, adisplay area, a peripheral area provided outside the display area, aplurality of electrodes provided to the display area and on a surface ofthe substrate, a plurality of terminals provided in correspondence withthe respective electrodes in the peripheral area, a first wire thatcouples a respective electrode of the electrodes to a respectiveterminal of the terminals, and a second wire that couples the respectiveelectrode to the respective terminal to which the first wire is coupled.

A detection apparatus according to one aspect includes a substrate, adisplay area, a peripheral area provided outside the display area, aplurality of electrodes provided to the display area and on a surface ofthe substrate, first terminals and second terminals provided incorrespondence with the respective electrodes in the peripheral area, afirst wire that couples a respective electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes to one of the first terminals, and a second wire that couplesthe respective electrode to one of the second terminals. The firstterminals are arrayed in a first direction, and the second terminals arearranged facing the first terminals in a second direction intersectingwith the first direction.

A display apparatus according to one aspect includes any one of thedetection apparatus described above and a display functional layer thatdisplays an image on the display area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of a displayapparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of a mutualcapacitance type capacitance touch detection method;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example of an equivalent circuit forexplaining the basic principle of the mutual capacitance typecapacitance touch detection method;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example of waveforms of a drive signal and adetection signal;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example of a module provided with the displayapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example of the module provided with thedisplay apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a schematic sectional structure of thedisplay apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of pixel arrangement in the displayapparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of terminals according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line X1-X2 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a protective layer provided to a secondsubstrate;

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating the terminal according to the firstembodiment in an enlarged manner;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the terminals according to a firstmodification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a secondmodification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the terminals according to the secondmodification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a thirdmodification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a fourthmodification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the terminals according to a second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view along line XIX1-XIX2 in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the terminals according to the thirdembodiment;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a plan view of detection electrodes according to the fourthembodiment;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a schematic sectional structure of thedisplay apparatus according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the terminals according to the fifthembodiment;

FIG. 27 is a plan view of the second substrate according to amodification of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining an example of a resistanceinspection method for the display apparatus;

FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining detection of deviation;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of an example of the resistance inspectionmethod;

FIG. 31 is a table of an example of resistance inspection items anddetermination results;

FIG. 32 is a plan view for explaining a second example of the resistanceinspection method; and

FIG. 33 is a sectional view for explaining the second example of theresistance inspection method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary aspects (embodiments) to embody the present invention aredescribed below in greater detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The contents described in the embodiments are not intended tolimit the present invention. Components described below includecomponents easily conceivable by those skilled in the art and componentssubstantially identical therewith. Furthermore, the components describedbelow may be appropriately combined. The disclosure is given by way ofexample only, and appropriate modifications made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and easily conceivable by those skilled inthe art naturally fall within the scope of the invention. To simplifythe explanation, the drawings may possibly illustrate the width, thethickness, the shape, and other elements of each unit more schematicallythan the actual aspect. These elements, however, are given by way ofexample only and are not intended to limit interpretation of theinvention. In the specification and the drawings, components similar tothose previously described with reference to previous drawings aredenoted by like reference numerals, and overlapping explanation thereofmay be appropriately omitted.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of a displayapparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Adisplay apparatus 1 includes a display device with a touch detectionfunction 10, a controller 11, a gate driver 12, a source driver 13, adrive electrode driver 14, and a detection device 40. The display devicewith a touch detection function 10 is an apparatus in which a displaypanel 20 what is called a liquid crystal display apparatus is integratedwith a capacitance detection apparatus 30. The display device with atouch detection function 10 may be an apparatus in which the detectionapparatus 30 is mounted on the display panel 20. The display panel 20may be an organic electroluminescence (EL) display apparatus, forexample. The gate driver 12, the source driver 13, or the driveelectrode driver 14 may be provided to the display device with a touchdetection function 10.

The display panel 20 is an apparatus that sequentially scans eachhorizontal line to perform display based on scanning signals Vscansupplied from the gate driver 12. The controller 11 is a circuit(control apparatus) that supplies control signals to the gate driver 12,the source driver 13, the drive electrode driver 14, and the detectiondevice 40 based on video signals Vdisp supplied from the outside,thereby performing control such that these components operatesynchronously with one another.

The gate driver 12 has a function to sequentially select one horizontalline to be a target of display drive in the display device with a touchdetection function 10 based on the control signals supplied from thecontroller 11.

The source driver 13 is a circuit that supplies pixel signals Vpix torespective sub-pixels SPix of the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 based on the control signals supplied from the controller11.

The drive electrode driver 14 is a circuit that supplies drive signalsVcom to drive electrodes COML of the display device with a touchdetection function 10 based on the control signals supplied from thecontroller 11.

The detection device 40 is a circuit that determines whether a touch (acontact or proximity state, which will be described later) is made onthe detection apparatus 30 based on the control signals supplied fromthe controller 11 and detection signals Vdet supplied from the detectionapparatus 30 of the display device with a touch detection function 10.If a touch is detected, the detection device 40 calculates coordinatesof the touch in a touch detection area. The detection device 40 includesa detection signal amplifier 42, an analog/digital (A/D) converter 43, asignal processor 44, a coordinate extractor 45, and a detection timingcontroller 46.

The detection signal amplifier 42 amplifies the detection signals Vdetsupplied from the detection apparatus 30. The detection signal amplifier42 may include a low-pass analog filter that removes high-frequencycomponents (noise components) included in the detection signals Vdet andextracts and outputs touch components.

Basic Principle of Capacitance Touch Detection

The detection apparatus 30 operates based on the basic principle ofcapacitance proximity detection and outputs the detection signals Vdet.The following describes the basic principle of touch detection performedby the display device with a touch detection function 10 according tothe present embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 2 is adiagram for explaining the basic principle of a mutual capacitance type(mutual type) capacitance touch detection method. FIG. 3 is a diagram ofan example of an equivalent circuit for explaining the basic principleof the mutual capacitance type capacitance touch detection method. FIG.4 is a diagram of an example of waveforms of a drive signal and adetection signal. An external object may be any object as long as itgenerates capacitance. Examples of the external object include, but arenot limited to, a finger, a stylus, etc. The present embodimentdescribes a case where the external object is a finger, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, a capacitance element C1 includesa pair of electrodes, that is, a drive electrode E1 and a detectionelectrode E2 facing each other with a dielectric D interposedtherebetween. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a first end of the capacitanceelement C1 is coupled to an alternating-current (AC) signal source(drive signal source) S, and a second end thereof is coupled to avoltage detector (detection device) DET. The voltage detector DET is anintegration circuit included in the detection signal amplifier 42illustrated in FIG. 1, for example.

When the AC signal source S applies an AC rectangular wave Sg at apredetermined frequency (e.g., approximately several kilohertz toseveral hundred kilohertz) to the drive electrode E1 (first end of thecapacitance element C1), an output waveform (detection signal Vdet) isgenerated via the voltage detector DET.

In a state where a finger is not in contact with (or in proximity to)the detection electrode (hereinafter, referred to as a “non-contactstate”), an electric current depending on the capacitance value of thecapacitance element C1 flows in association with charge and discharge ofthe capacitance element C1. The voltage detector DET convertsfluctuations in the electric current depending on the AC rectangularwave Sg into fluctuations in the voltage (waveform V₀ indicated by thesolid line (refer to FIG. 4)).

By contrast, in a state where a finger is in contact with (or inproximity to) the detection electrode (hereinafter, referred to as a“contact state”), capacitance C2 generated by the finger is in contactwith or in proximity to the detection electrode E2 as illustrated inFIG. 2. In this state, fringe capacitance between the drive electrode E1and the detection electrode E2 is blocked. As a result, the capacitanceelement C1 acts as a capacitance element having a capacitance valuesmaller than that in the non-contact state. The voltage detector DETconverts fluctuations in an electric current I₁ depending on the ACrectangular wave Sg into fluctuations in the voltage (waveform V₁indicated by the dotted line (refer to FIG. 4)).

In this case, the waveform V₁ has amplitude smaller than that of thewaveform V₀. An absolute value |ΔV| of voltage difference between thewaveform V₀ and the waveform V₁ varies depending on an effect of anobject, such as a finger, in proximity to the detection electrode fromthe outside. It is preferable that the voltage detector DET accuratelydetects the absolute value |ΔV| of the voltage difference between thewaveform V₀ and the waveform V₁. To perform accurate detection, thevoltage detector DET preferably has a period Reset for resetting chargeand discharge of a capacitor based on the frequency of the ACrectangular wave Sg by switching in the circuit.

The detection apparatus 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 sequentially scans eachdetection block to perform touch detection based on the drive signalsVcom supplied from the drive electrode driver 14.

The detection apparatus 30 outputs the detection signals Vdet ofrespective detection blocks from a plurality of detection electrodes TDLvia the voltage detector DET illustrated in FIG. 3. The detectionapparatus 30 supplies the detection signals Vdet to the A/D converter 43of the detection device 40.

The A/D converter 43 is a circuit that samples analog signals outputfrom the detection signal amplifier 42 to convert those signals intodigital signals at a timing synchronized with the drive signals Vcom.

The signal processor 44 includes a digital filter that reduces frequencycomponents (noise components) at frequencies other than the frequency atwhich the drive signals Vcom included in the output signals from the A/Dconverter 43 are sampled. The signal processor 44 is a logic circuitthat determines whether a touch is made on the detection apparatus 30based on the output signals from the A/D converter 43.

The signal processor 44 performs processing of extracting only thevoltage of difference caused by a finger. The voltage of differencecaused by a finger corresponds to the absolute value |ΔV| of thedifference between the waveform V₀ and the waveform V₁. The signalprocessor 44 may perform an arithmetic operation for averaging theabsolute value |ΔV| per detection block, thereby calculating the averageof the absolute value |ΔV|. With this operation, the signal processor 44can reduce an effect of noise. The signal processor 44 compares thedetected voltage of difference caused by a finger with a predeterminedthreshold voltage. If the voltage of difference is equal to or higherthan the threshold voltage, the signal processor 44 determines that thefinger is in the contact state. By contrast, if the voltage ofdifference is lower than the threshold voltage, the signal processor 44determines that the finger is in the non-contact state. The detectiondevice 40 thus can perform touch detection.

The coordinate extractor 45 is a logic circuit that calculates, when thesignal processor 44 detects a touch, the touch panel coordinates of thetouch. The detection timing controller 46 performs control such that theA/D converter 43, the signal processor 44, and the coordinate extractor45 operate synchronously with one another. The coordinate extractor 45outputs the touch panel coordinates as signal output Vout.

The capacitance touch detection method is not limited to the mutualcapacitance type described above and may be a self-capacitance type. Inthis case, the AC rectangular wave Sg serving as the drive signal isapplied to the detection electrode E2. An electric current depending onthe capacitance value of the detection electrode E2 flows in the voltagedetector DET. The voltage detector DET converts fluctuations in theelectric current depending on the AC rectangular wave Sg intofluctuations in the voltage. In the non-contact state, an electriccurrent depending on the capacitance value of the detection electrode E2flows. By contrast, in the contact state, the capacitance valuegenerated between the finger and the detection electrode E2 is added tothe capacitance value of the detection electrode E2. In the contactstate, the detection electrode E2 acts as a capacitance element having acapacitance value larger than that in the non-contact state. The voltagedetector DET outputs the detection signals Vdet based on a change incapacitance. The detection device 40 thus can perform touch detectionbased on the absolute value |ΔV|.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views of an example of a module provided with thedisplay apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a planview of an example of drive electrodes, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of anexample of detection electrodes.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the display apparatus 1 includes a firstsubstrate 21 and a flexible substrate 72. The first substrate 21 hasareas corresponding to a display area 10 a of the display panel 20(refer to FIG. 1) and a peripheral area 10 b provided outside thedisplay area 10 a. A chip on glass (COG) 19 is mounted on the peripheralarea 10 b of the first substrate 21. The COG 19 is an integrated circuit(IC) driver chip mounted on the first substrate 21 and includes circuitsrequired for display operations, such as the controller 11, the gatedriver 12, and the source driver 13 illustrated in FIG. 1. Theperipheral area 10 b may surround the display area 10 a. In this case,the peripheral area 10 b may be referred to as a frame area.

The gate driver 12, the source driver 13, or the drive electrode driver14 according to the present embodiment may be provided to the firstsubstrate 21 serving as a glass substrate. The COG 19 and the driveelectrode driver 14 are provided to the peripheral area 10 b. The COG 19may include the drive electrode driver 14. In this case, the width ofthe peripheral area 10 b can be made narrower. The flexible substrate 72is coupled to the COG 19. The COG 19 is supplied with the video signalsVdisp and the power supply voltage from the outside via the flexiblesubstrate 72.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 includes a plurality of drive electrodes COML in an areaoverlapping with the display area 10 a. The drive electrodes COML extendin a direction (second direction Dy) along one side of the display area10 a and are arrayed in a direction (first direction Dx) along the otherside of the display area 10 a with a gap interposed therebetween. Thedrive electrodes COML are coupled to the drive electrode driver 14. Thedrive electrodes COML are made of a translucent conductive material,such as indium tin oxide (ITO).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the display apparatus 1 further includes asecond substrate 31 and a flexible substrate 71. The flexible substrate71 is provided with the detection device 40 (not illustrated). Thedetection device 40 may be mounted not on the flexible substrate 71 buton another substrate coupled to the flexible substrate 71. The secondsubstrate 31 is a translucent glass substrate, for example. The secondsubstrate 31 faces the first substrate 21 in a direction perpendicularto the surface of the first substrate 21 illustrated in FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 includes a plurality of detection electrodes TDL(1), TDL(2),. . . , and TDL(n) in an area overlapping with the display area 10 a. Inthe following description, the detection electrodes TDL(1), TDL(2), . .. , and TDL(n) are referred to as the detection electrodes TDL whenthose need not be distinguished from one another. The detectionelectrodes TDL extend in a direction (first direction Dx) intersectingwith the extending direction of the drive electrodes COML illustrated inFIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the detection electrodes TDL arearrayed in the extending direction (second direction Dy) of the driveelectrodes COML with spaces SP interposed therebetween. In other words,the drive electrodes COML and the detection electrodes TDL are arrangedintersecting with each other in planar view, and capacitance isgenerated at the intersections where the drive electrodes COML and thedetection electrodes TDL overlap with each other.

In a display operation, the display apparatus 1 sequentially scans eachhorizontal line. In other words, the display apparatus 1 performsdisplay scanning in parallel with the second direction Dy. In a touchdetection operation, the display apparatus 1 sequentially applies thedrive signals Vcom to the drive electrodes COML from the drive electrodedriver 14, thereby sequentially scanning each detection line. In otherwords, the display device with a touch detection function 10 performsscanning in parallel with the first direction Dx.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the detection electrodes TDL according to thepresent embodiment each include a plurality of first conductive thinwires 33U and a plurality of second conductive thin wires 33V. The firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V areinclined in opposite directions with respect to a direction parallel toone side of the display area 10 a.

The first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires33V have a small width. In the display area 10 a, the first conductivethin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V are arrangedwith a gap interposed therebetween in a direction (second direction Dy,that is, the direction of the long side of the display area 10 a)intersecting with the extending direction of the first conductive thinwires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V.

The detection electrodes TDL each include at least one first conductivethin wire 33U and at least one second conductive thin wire 33Vintersecting with the first conductive thin wire 33U. The firstconductive thin wire 33U and the second conductive thin wire 33V areelectrically coupled at a coupling portion 33X. The first conductivethin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V intersect witheach other at a plurality of positions. As a result, the shape of onemesh in the detection electrode TDL is formed into a parallelogram.

Both ends in the extending direction of the first conductive thin wires33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V are coupled to couplingwires 34 a and 34 b arranged in the peripheral area 10 b. The firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33Vserving as a main detection part of the detection electrodes TDL arecoupled to the coupling wires 34 a and 34 b via thin wires 33 a. Withthis configuration, the first conductive thin wires 33U and the secondconductive thin wires 33V are electrically coupled to each other toserve as one detection electrode TDL.

The first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires33V are a metal layer made of one or more of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu),silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), and tungsten (W).Alternatively, the first conductive thin wires 33U and the secondconductive thin wires 33V are made of an alloy containing one or more ofthe metal materials described above. Still alternatively, the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V maybe a multilayered body having a plurality of conductive layers made ofthe metal materials described above or an alloy containing one or moreof the materials. The first conductive thin wires 33U and the secondconductive thin wires 33V may be a multilayered body having conductivelayers made of translucent conductive oxide, such as ITO. The firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V maybe a multilayered body having blackened films, black organic films, orblack conductive organic films obtained by combining the metal materialsand the conductive layers described above.

The metal materials described above have resistance lower than that oftranslucent conductive oxide, such as ITO. The metal materials describedabove, however, have a light shielding property compared withtranslucent conductive oxide. This property may possibly lower thetransmittance or cause the patterns of the detection electrodes TDL tobe visually recognized. To address this, the detection electrodes TDLaccording to the present embodiment each include a plurality of firstconductive thin wires 33U and a plurality of second conductive thinwires 33V having a small width. The first conductive thin wires 33U andthe second conductive thin wires 33V are arranged with a gap larger thanthose width interposed therebetween. With this structure, the detectionelectrodes TDL can have lower resistance and be made invisible. As aresult, the detection electrodes TDL have lower resistance, and thedisplay apparatus 1 can have a smaller thickness, a larger screen, orhigher definition.

The width of the first conductive thin wires 33U and the secondconductive thin wires 33V is preferably 1 μm to 10 μm and morepreferably 1 μm to 5 μm. If the width of the first conductive thin wires33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V is 10 μm or smaller, thearea covering apertures is reduced in the display area 10 a, making theaperture ratio less likely to be reduced. The apertures correspond toareas in which transmission of light is not suppressed by a black matrixor gate lines GCL and data lines SGL. If the width of the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V is 1μm or larger, the shape of the first conductive thin wires 33U and thesecond conductive thin wires 33V is stabilized, making the wires lesslikely to be broken.

The detection electrodes TDL are not limited to mesh-like metal thinwires and may include a plurality of zigzag or wavy metal thin wires,for example. The spaces SP between the detection electrodes TDL may beprovided with dummy electrodes not serving as detection electrodes. Thedummy electrodes may have mesh, zigzag, or wavy patterns similar tothose of the detection electrodes TDL.

The coupling wires 34 a are coupled to respective first wires 37 a. Thecoupling wires 34 b are coupled to respective second wires 37 b. Inother words, the first wires 37 a according to the present embodimentare coupled to first ends of the respective detection electrodes TDL,and the second wires 37 b are coupled to second ends thereof. The firstwire 37 a is provided along one of the long sides of the peripheral area10 b. The second wire 37 b is provided along the other of the long sidesof the peripheral area 10 b. The detection electrodes TDL are coupled tothe flexible substrate 71 via the first wires 37 a and the second wires37 b.

The first wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b are made of the samematerials as the metal materials, the alloy, or the like of the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V. Thefirst wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b simply need to be made ofhighly conductive materials and may be made of materials different fromthose of the first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductivethin wires 33V.

As described above, the first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b arecoupled to one detection electrode TDL. This configuration can securecoupling of the detection electrode TDL to the flexible substrate 71with one of the first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b when the otherthereof is broken. Consequently, the display apparatus 1 according tothe present embodiment can increase the reliability of coupling betweenthe detection electrodes TDL and the flexible substrate 71.

Part of the detection electrodes TDL may be arranged outside the displayarea 10 a (in the peripheral area 10 b). The coupling wires 34 a and 34b may be arranged not in the peripheral area 10 b but in the displayarea 10 a. The coupling wires 34 a and 34 b are coupled to the detectiondevice 40 via the first wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b,respectively. The coupling wires 34 a and 34 b may serve as wiring thatcouples the first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductivethin wires 33V to the detection device 40.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a schematic sectional structure of thedisplay apparatus according to the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 7, the display apparatus 1 includes a pixel substrate 2, a countersubstrate 3, and a liquid crystal layer 6. The counter substrate 3 isarranged facing the pixel substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular tothe surface of the pixel substrate 2. The liquid crystal layer 6 isprovided between the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3.

The pixel substrate 2 includes the first substrate 21, a plurality ofpixel electrodes 22, a plurality of drive electrodes COML, and aninsulating layer 24. The first substrate 21 serves as a circuit board.The pixel electrodes 22 are arranged in a matrix (row-columnconfiguration) above the first substrate 21. The drive electrodes COMLare provided between the first substrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22.The insulating layer 24 provides electrical insulation between the pixelelectrodes 22 and the drive electrodes COML. A polarizing plate 65 isprovided under the first substrate 21 with an adhesive layer 66interposed therebetween.

The counter substrate 3 includes the second substrate 31 and a colorfilter 32. The color filter 32 is provided on a first surface of thesecond substrate 31. The detection electrodes TDL of the detectionapparatus 30 are provided on a second surface of the second substrate31. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the detection electrodes TDL are providedon the second substrate 31. A protective layer 38 is provided on thedetection electrodes TDL. The protective layer 38 protects the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V ofthe detection electrodes TDL. The protective layer 38 may be made of atranslucent resin, such as an acrylic resin. A polarizing plate 35 isprovided on the protective layer 38 with an adhesive layer 39 interposedtherebetween. The detection electrodes TDL are electrically coupled tothe flexible substrate 71 via terminals 51.

The first substrate 21 and the second substrate 31 are arranged facingeach other with a predetermined gap formed by a sealing portion 61interposed therebetween. The liquid crystal layer 6 is provided to thespace surrounded by the first substrate 21, the second substrate 31, andthe sealing portion 61. The liquid crystal layer 6 modulates lightpassing therethrough depending on the state of an electric field. Theliquid crystal layer 6, for example, includes liquid crystals in alateral electric-field mode, such as the in-plane switching (IPS) modeincluding the fringe field switching (FFS) mode. The liquid crystallayer 6 serves as a display functional layer that displays an image. Anorientation film may be provided between the liquid crystal layer 6 andthe pixel substrate 2 and between the liquid crystal layer 6 and thecounter substrate 3 illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of pixel arrangement in the displayapparatus according to the first embodiment. The first substrate 21illustrated in FIG. 7 is provided with switching elements of therespective sub-pixels SPix and wiring, such as the data lines SGL andthe gate lines GCL, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The switching elements arethin-film transistor elements (hereinafter, referred to as TFT elements)Tr, for example. The data lines SGL are wiring that supplies the pixelsignals Vpix to the respective pixel electrodes 22. The gate lines GCLare wiring that drives the TFT elements Tr. The data lines SGL and thegate lines GCL extend on a plane parallel to the surface of the firstsubstrate 21.

The display panel 20 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes a plurality ofsub-pixels SPix arrayed in a matrix (row-column configuration). Thesub-pixels SPix each include the TFT element Tr and a liquid crystalelement 6 a. The TFT element Tr is a thin-film transistor and is ann-channel metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) TFT in this example. One ofthe source and the drain of the TFT element Tr is coupled to the dataline SGL, the gate thereof is coupled to the gate line GCL, and theother of the source and the drain thereof is coupled to a first end ofthe liquid crystal element 6 a. The first end of the liquid crystalelement 6 a is coupled to the other of the source and the drain of theTFT element Tr, and a second end thereof is coupled to the driveelectrode COML. The insulating layer 24 is provided between the pixelelectrodes 22 and the common electrodes (drive electrodes COML), therebyforming holding capacitance 6 b illustrated in FIG. 8.

The sub-pixel SPix is coupled to the other sub-pixels SPix belonging tothe same row in the display panel 20 by the gate line GCL. The gatelines GCL are coupled to the gate driver 12 (refer to FIG. 1) andsupplied with the scanning signals Vscan from the gate driver 12. Thesub-pixel SPix is coupled to the other sub-pixels SPix belonging to thesame column in the display panel 20 by the data line SGL. The data linesSGL are coupled to the source driver 13 (refer to FIG. 1) and suppliedwith the pixel signals Vpix from the source driver 13. The sub-pixelSPix is also coupled to the other sub-pixels SPix belonging to the samecolumn by the drive electrode COML. The drive electrodes COML arecoupled to the drive electrode driver 14 (refer to FIG. 1) and suppliedwith the drive signals Vcom from the drive electrode driver 14. In otherwords, a plurality of sub-pixels SPix belonging to the same column shareone drive electrode COML in this example. The extending direction of thedrive electrodes COML according to the present embodiment is parallel tothat of the data lines SGL. The extending direction of the driveelectrodes COML according to the present embodiment is not limitedthereto and may be parallel to that of the gate lines GCL, for example.

The color filter 32 illustrated in FIG. 7, for example, includesperiodically arrayed color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B of three colors ofred (R), green (G), and blue (B), respectively. The color areas 32R,32G, and 32B of the three colors of R, G, and B, respectively, serve asa set and correspond to the respective sub-pixels SPix illustrated inFIG. 8. A set of color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B serves as a pixel Pix. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the color filter 32 faces the liquid crystallayer 6 in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate 21. Thecolor filter 32 may have another combination of colors as long as thoseare different colors. The color filter 32 does not necessarily have acombination of three colors and may have a combination of four or morecolors.

The drive electrodes COML illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 serve as commonelectrodes that supply a common potential to a plurality of pixelelectrodes 22 in the display panel 20. The drive electrodes COML alsoserve as drive electrodes in mutual capacitance touch detectionperformed by the detection apparatus 30. The detection apparatus 30includes the drive electrodes COML in the pixel substrate 2 and thedetection electrodes TDL in the counter substrate 3. As described above,capacitance is generated at the intersections of the drive electrodesCOML and the detection electrodes TDL.

In a mutual capacitance touch detection operation performed by thedetection apparatus 30, the drive electrode driver 14 sequentially scansthe drive electrodes COML in a time-division manner. The detectionapparatus 30 thus sequentially selects one detection block of the driveelectrodes COML. The detection electrodes TDL output the detectionsignals Vdet, thereby performing touch detection in one detection block.In other words, the drive electrodes COML correspond to the driveelectrode E1 in the basic principle of mutual capacitance touchdetection described above, and the detection electrodes TDL correspondto the detection electrode E2. The detection apparatus 30 detects touchinput according to the basic principle. The detection electrodes TDL andthe drive electrodes COML intersect with each other and serve as acapacitance touch sensor formed in a matrix (row-column configuration).With this configuration, the display apparatus 1 performs scanning overthe entire touch detection surface of the detection apparatus 30,thereby detecting a position where an external conductor is in contactwith or in proximity to the touch detection surface.

In an example of the operation method performed by the display apparatus1, the display apparatus 1 performs a touch detection operation(detection period) and a display operation (display period) in a timedivision manner. The touch detection operation and the display operationmay be performed in any division manner.

The drive electrodes COML according to the present embodiment also serveas the common electrodes of the display panel 20. In the display period,the controller 11 supplies the drive signals Vcom serving as a commonelectrode potential for display to the selected drive electrodes COMLvia the drive electrode driver 14.

In a case where the display apparatus 1 performs a detection operationusing only the detection electrodes TDL without using the driveelectrodes COML in the detection period, that is, in a case where thedisplay apparatus 1 performs touch detection based on the basicprinciple of self-capacitance (also referred to as self-type) touchdetection, the drive electrode driver 14 may supply the drive signalsVcom for touch detection to the detection electrodes TDL.

The following describes the coupling structure of the detectionelectrodes TDL and the flexible substrate 71 according to the presentembodiment with reference to FIGS. 6, 9, and 10. FIG. 9 is a plan viewof terminals according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sectionalview along line X1-X2 in FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a plurality of terminals 51(1), 51(2), 51(3),. . . , 51(n−2), 51(n−1), and 51(n) are provided in the peripheral area10 b of the second substrate 31. In the following description, theterminals 51(1), 51(2), 51(3), . . . , 51(n−2), 51(n−1), and 51(n) arereferred to as the terminals 51 when those need not be distinguishedfrom one another. The terminals 51 each have a rectangular shape thelong side of which extends along the second direction Dy and the shortside of which extends along the first direction Dx. The terminals 51 arearrayed in the first direction Dx. The terminals 51 are made of themetal materials or the alloy material described above.

The terminals 51(1), 51(2), 51(3), . . . , 51(n−2), 51(n−1), and 51(n)correspond to the detection electrodes TDL(1), TDL(2), TDL(3), . . . ,TDL(n−2), TDL(n−1), and TDL(n) in FIG. 6, respectively. In other words,the first wire 37 a coupled to a first end of the detection electrodeTDL(1) is coupled to a first end of the terminal 51(1) in the seconddirection Dy (on the side facing the display area 10 a) via a firstportion 53. The second wire 37 b coupled to a second end of thedetection electrode TDL(1) is coupled to a second end of the terminal51(1) on the side opposite to the side to which the first wire 37 a iscoupled (on the side facing the outer rim of the peripheral area 10 b)via a second portion 54. Similarly, the n-th detection electrode TDL(n)is electrically coupled to the terminal 51(n) via the first wire 37 aand the second wire 37 b.

The first wires 37 a according to the present embodiment are coupled tothe first ends of the respective terminals 51 through the peripheralarea 10 b between the terminals 51 and the display area 10 a. The secondwires 37 b are coupled to the second ends of the respective terminals 51through the peripheral area 10 b on the opposite side of the displayarea 10 a across the terminals 51. As described above, the first wire 37a and the second wire 37 b coupled to one detection electrode TDL areelectrically coupled to the same one terminal 51.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the terminal 51, the first portion 53, thesecond portion 54, the first wires 37 a, and the second wires 37 b areprovided on the second substrate 31. These wires are provided to thesame layer as that of the detection electrodes TDL (refer to FIG. 6).The protective layer 38 covers the first wires 37 a, part of the firstportion 53, the second wires 37 b, and part of the second portion 54.The terminal 51 is arranged between adjacent parts of the protectivelayer 38 and exposed from the protective layer 38.

The flexible substrate 71 faces the terminal 51. The flexible substrate71 includes a base 75 and a coupling terminal 76. The coupling terminal76 is provided on the surface of the base 75 facing the second substrate31 and is arranged facing the terminal 51. The terminal 51 iselectrically coupled to the coupling terminal 76 with a conductiveadhesive 63 interposed therebetween. The conductive adhesive 63 is ananisotropic conductive film (ACF), for example. The conductive adhesive63 includes a number of conductive particles 63 a. The conductiveparticles 63 a are spherical particles obtained by covering a metalmaterial with an insulating layer, for example. To simplify the drawing,FIG. 10 illustrates two conductive particles 63 a alone.

The flexible substrate 71 is arranged on the conductive adhesive 63 andthen heated and pressurized. At this time, the conductive particles 63 apresent between the coupling terminal 76 and the terminal 51 arecrushed, whereby the metal material in the conductive particles 63 a isexposed from the insulating layer. As a result, the coupling terminal 76is electrically coupled to the terminal 51 via the conductive particles63 a. The conductive adhesive 63 are provided continuously over theterminals 51. Electrical connection between the conductive particles 63a in an in-plane direction of the second substrate 31 is suppressedbecause the pressurization is smaller in the in-plane direction than inthe vertical direction. As a result, the terminals 51 or the couplingterminals 76 adjacent to each other in planar view are not electricallyconnected, and the terminals 51 and the respective coupling terminals 76are electrically connected in the vertical direction.

The coupling terminals 76 are provided in correspondence with therespective terminals 51(1), 51(2), . . . , 51(n−2), 51(n−1), and 51(n)illustrated in FIG. 9. The coupling terminals 76 are electricallycoupled to the respective terminals 51 in one-to-one correspondence.

As described above, the first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b coupledto the detection electrode TDL are electrically coupled to the couplingterminal 76 of the flexible substrate 71 via the same one terminal 51.With this configuration, the number of terminals 51 is smaller than thetotal number of first wires 37 a and second wires 37 b. When one of thefirst wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b coupled to the same oneterminal 51 is broken, the other thereof remains coupled to the terminal51. This configuration can prevent the wires from being completelybroken between the detection electrode TDL and the terminal 51.

There is a case where the first wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b arecoupled to the flexible substrate 71 with respective terminals (refer toJP-A-2010-39816). In this case, the flexible substrate 71 needs to havea multilayered structure, and the first wires 37 a and the second wires37 b need to be electrically coupled in the flexible substrate 71. Bycontrast, the first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b according to thepresent embodiment are coupled to the flexible substrate 71 via oneterminal 51. As a result, the layer configuration of the flexiblesubstrate 71 and the configuration of the wires can be simplified.Consequently, the present embodiment can simplify the configuration ofthe flexible substrate 71 and reduce the manufacturing cost.

The coupling form of the first wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b tothe terminals 51 may be appropriately changed. The second wires 37 b maybe coupled to the first ends (on the side closer to the display area 10a) of the respective terminals 51, and the first wires 37 a may becoupled to the second ends (on the side closer to the outer rim of theperipheral area 10 b) of the respective terminals 51, for example.

The following describes the configuration of the first portion 53 andthe second portion 54. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the protective layerprovided to the second substrate. FIG. 12 is a plan view illustratingthe terminal according to the first embodiment in an enlarged manner. InFIG. 11, the protective layer 38 is hatched.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the protective layer 38 is provided coveringthe detection electrodes TDL in the display area 10 a and the firstwires 37 a and the second wires 37 b in the peripheral area 10 b. In theperipheral area 10 b near the terminals 51, the protective layer 38 isprovided to the peripheral area 10 b between the terminals 51 and thedisplay area 10 a to cover the first wires 37 a extending in the firstdirection Dx. A protrusion 38 a of the protective layer 38 is providedto the peripheral area 10 b between the terminals 51 and the outer rimof the second substrate 31 to cover the second wires 37 b extending inthe first direction Dx. The protective layer 38 is not provided to thearea provided with the terminals 51.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the protective layer 38 covers the first wire37 a coupled to the first end of the terminal 51 and part of the firstportion 53. The protective layer 38 (protrusion 38 a) covers the secondwire 37 b coupled to the second end of the terminal 51 and part of thesecond portion 54. The conductive adhesive 63 is provided covering theterminal 51 exposed from the protective layer 38. The conductiveadhesive 63 is provided overlapping partially with the protective layer38 at an overlapping portion OL1. The conductive adhesive 63 is providedoverlapping partially with the protective layer 38 (protrusion 38 a) atan overlapping portion OL2.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the first portion 53 coupling the terminal 51and the first wire 37 a includes linear portions 53 a and couplingportions 53 b. The linear portion 53 a is provided along the firstdirection Dx and a plurality of linear portions 53 a are arrayed in thesecond direction Dy. In other words, the linear portions 53 a extend inthe direction along the short side of the terminal 51 and are arrayedbetween the first wire 37 a and the terminal 51. The coupling portions53 b couple the linear portions 53 a adjacent to each other in thesecond direction Dy. The coupling portions 53 b are arrayed in the firstdirection Dx. The coupling portions 53 b are arranged not linearlycontinuously but alternately in the second direction Dy such that thosepositions are different in the first direction Dx. The numbers and theshapes of the linear portions 53 a and the coupling portions 53 billustrated in FIG. 12 are given by way of example only and may beappropriately changed.

The second portion 54 that couples the terminal 51 and the second wire37 b includes linear portions 54 a and coupling portions 54 b. Thesecond portion 54 has the same structure as that of the first portion53. The linear portion 54 a is provided along the first direction Dx anda plurality of linear portions 54 a are arrayed in the second directionDy. The coupling portions 54 b couple the linear portions 54 a adjacentto each other in the second direction Dy. While the second portion 54has a structure line-symmetric to the first portion 53, the structure isnot limited thereto. The second portion 54 may have a shape differentfrom that of the first portion 53. The first portion 53 and the secondportion 54 are made of the same metal material as that of the terminal51.

The protective layer 38 covers the first wire 37 a and part of the firstportion 53. The protective layer 38 also covers the second wire 37 b andpart of the second portion 54. The conductive adhesive 63 covers theterminal 51 between the parts of the protective layer 38. The conductiveadhesive 63 partially overlaps with the protective layer 38 at theoverlapping portions OL1 and OL2.

The first portion 53 and the second portion 54 provided in this mannerincreases the contact area of the protective layer 38. This structureincreases the adhesion between the protective layer 38 and the firstportion 53 and between the protective layer 38 and the second portion54. The protective layer 38 is applied and formed by a printing method,such as an inkjet system. If the first portion 53 and the second portion54 are not provided, the protective layer 38 may possibly be provided tothe position overlapping with the terminal 51 because of the fluidity ofink when the protective layer 38 is applied and formed. Specifically,the ink may possibly flow to the terminal 51 because the metal materialused for the terminal 51 has high wettability to the resin material usedfor the ink. To address this, the present embodiment includes the firstportion 53 and the second portion 54. Consequently, the presentembodiment can reduce the area of the metal material coming into contactwith the ink when the protective layer 38 is applied and formed, therebypreventing the protective layer 38 from overlapping with the terminal51.

The first portion 53 and the second portion 54 are not necessarilyprovided. In this case, the first wire 37 a is coupled to the first endof the terminal 51, and the second wire 37 b is coupled to the secondend thereof.

First Modification of the First Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the terminals according to a firstmodification of the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 13,terminals 51A of a display apparatus 1A according to the presentmodification have different shapes. A length L1 gradually decreases, anda width W1 gradually increases in order of terminals 51A(1), 51A(2),51A(3), . . . , 51A(n−2), 51A(n−1), and 51A(n). The length L1 and thewidth W1 are determined such that the terminals 51A(1), 51A(2), 51A(3),. . . , 51A(n−2), 51A(n−1), and 51A(n) have substantially the same area.The length L1 is the length of the terminals 51A in the second directionDy, and the width W1 is the length of the terminals 51A in the firstdirection Dx.

Also in the present modification, the first wires 37 a are coupled tothe first ends of the respective terminals 51A, and the second wires 37b are coupled to the second ends of the respective terminals 51A. Thefirst ends of the terminals 51A are arranged such that those positionsare the same in the second direction Dy. The second ends of theterminals 51A are arranged in a manner shifting in the second directionDy from the terminal 51A(1) to the terminal 51(n). With thisconfiguration, the second wires 37 b coupled to the second ends of therespective terminals 51A and extending in the first direction Dx areprovided to an area corresponding to the part provided by shortening thelength L1. As a result, the width of a wiring area WF2 can be smallerthan that of a wiring area WF1 illustrated in FIG. 9. Consequently, thedisplay apparatus 1A can make the peripheral area 10 b provided with theterminals 51A narrower.

The wiring areas WF1 and WF2 are provided with the first wires 37 aextending in the first direction Dx and the second wires 37 b extendingin the first direction Dx. The wiring areas WF1 and WF2 are belt-likeareas extending in parallel with the peripheral area 10 b (refer to FIG.6) provided with the terminals 51A. The width of the wiring area WF2corresponds to the distance between the first wire 37 a and the secondwire 37 b positioned outermost in the second direction Dy out of thefirst wires 37 a extending in the first direction Dx and the secondwires 37 b extending in the first direction Dx. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 13, the width of the wiring area WF2 corresponds tothe distance in the second direction Dy between the first wire 37 acoupled to the terminal 51A(n) out of the first wires 37 a extending inthe first direction Dx and the second wire 37 b coupled to the terminal51A(1) out of the second wires 37 b extending in the first direction Dx.

The terminals 51A according to the present modification have differentshapes but have substantially the same area. This configuration cansuppress variations in contact resistance of the flexible substrate 71with the coupling terminals 76 (refer to FIG. 10). The array pitchesbetween the terminals 51A in the first direction Dx, that is, thedistances between the center positions of the terminals 51A in the firstdirection Dx are equal. This configuration can reduce a change in thedesign of the flexible substrate 71 coupled to the terminals 51A. Theconfiguration is not limited thereto, and the terminals 51A may have thesame width W1 and different lengths L1.

The present modification does not include the first portion 53 and thesecond portion 54 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 12. The first wires 37 aand the second wires 37 b are directly coupled to the terminals 51A. Theterminals 51A may be provided with the first portion 53 and the secondportion 54.

Second Modification of the First Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a secondmodification of the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a plan view of theterminals according to the second modification of the first embodiment.As illustrated in FIG. 14, in a display apparatus 1B according to thepresent modification, the first wire 37 a is coupled to the first end ofthe detection electrode TDL(1), and the second wire 37 b is coupled tothe second end thereof. Either of the first wire 37 a or the second wire37 b is coupled to the detection electrodes TDL(2) to TDL(n). The secondwire 37 b is coupled to the second end of the detection electrodeTDL(2), and the first wire 37 a is coupled to the first end of thedetection electrode TDL(3). The first wires 37 a and the second wires 37b are alternately coupled to the detection electrodes TDL(2) to TDL(n).

The detection electrode TDL(1) is arranged farthest from the peripheralarea 10 b to which the flexible substrate 71 is coupled. The first wire37 a and the second wire 37 b coupled to the detection electrode TDL(1)are arranged closer to the outer periphery of the peripheral area 10 bthan the first wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b coupled to thedetection electrodes TDL(2) to TDL(n).

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 bcoupled to the detection electrode TDL(1) are coupled to the terminal51(1). The first wire 37 a is coupled to the first end of the terminal51(1) via the first portion 53. The second wire 37 b is coupled to thesecond end of the terminal 51(1) via the second portion 54. One of thefirst wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b coupled to the detectionelectrodes TDL(2) to TDL(n) is coupled to the first ends of theterminals 51(2) to 51(n), respectively.

While the number of terminals 51 according to the present modificationis the same as that in the example illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9, thenumber of first wires 37 a and second wires 37 b provided to theperipheral area 10 b can be reduced. This configuration can make theperipheral area 10 b narrower. The wires arranged outermost out of thefirst wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b provided to the peripheralarea 10 b are more likely to be broken. The first wire 37 a and thesecond wire 37 b according to the present modification are arrangedoutermost in the peripheral area 10 b and coupled to the one detectionelectrode TDL(1). This configuration can secure coupling of thedetection electrode TDL(1) to the terminal 51(1) when one of the firstwire 37 a and the second wire 37 b is broken.

The present modification does not necessarily include the first portion53 and the second portion 54. In this case, the first wire 37 a iscoupled to the first end of the terminal 51(1), and the second wire 37 bis coupled to the second end thereof. Either of the first wire 37 a orthe second wire 37 b is coupled to the first ends of the terminals 51(2)to 51(n).

Third Modification of the First Embodiment

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a thirdmodification of the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 16, adisplay apparatus 1C according to the present modification includes aguard ring 58 in the peripheral area 10 b of the second substrate 31.The guard ring 58 has a circular shape surrounding the detectionelectrodes TDL, the first wires 37 a, and the second wires 37 b. Theguard ring 58 has a first portion 58 a, a second portion 58 b, a thirdportion 58 c, a fourth portion 58 d, and a fifth portion 58 e.

The first portion 58 a is provided along the detection electrode TDL(1).The second portion 58 b is coupled to one end of the first portion 58 aand arranged along the first wires 37 a on the outer side than the firstwires 37 a. The third portion 58 c is arranged along the second wires 37b on the outer side than the second wires 37 b. The fourth portion 58 dis coupled to an end of the second portion 58 b, extends in the firstdirection Dx, and is coupled to the flexible substrate 71. The fifthportion 58 e is coupled to an end of the third portion 58 c and coupledto the flexible substrate 71.

The configuration of the terminals 51 is the same as that illustrated inFIG. 15. In other words, the fourth portion 58 d of the guard ring 58 iscoupled to the first end of the terminal 51(1), and the fifth portion 58e of the guard ring 58 is coupled to the second end thereof. The guardring 58 is coupled to the ground via the flexible substrate 71 andgrounded. Alternatively, the guard ring 58 is supplied with voltagesignals having the same electric potential as that supplied to thedetection electrodes TDL. This configuration can reduce straycapacitance in the detection electrodes TDL, thereby suppressingreduction in the detection sensitivity.

One end and the other end of the guard ring 58 according to the presentmodification are coupled to the same one terminal 51. With thisconfiguration, at least one terminal can be omitted. The first wires 37a and the second wires 37 b are provided on the inner side of theperipheral area 10 b than the guard ring 58. This configuration cansuppress breaking of the first wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b.Either of the first wire 37 a or the second wire 37 b according to thepresent modification is coupled to the detection electrodes TDL. Theconfiguration is not limited thereto, and both of the first wire 37 aand the second wire 37 b may be coupled to the respective detectionelectrodes TDL.

Fourth Modification of the First Embodiment

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a fourthmodification of the first embodiment. In a display apparatus 1Daccording to the present modification, detection electrodes TDLA eachinclude first detection electrodes TDL1 and second detection electrodesTDL2. In one detection electrode TDLA, the first detection electrodeTDL1 is provided along the first direction Dx and a plurality of firstdetection electrodes TDL1 are arranged with a gap interposedtherebetween in the second direction Dy. The second detection electrodeTDL2 is provided along the first direction Dx and arranged away from therespective first detection electrodes TDL1 in the second direction Dywith a slit SLa interposed therebetween. A dummy electrode TDLd1 isarranged between two first detection electrodes TDL1 with a slit SLbinterposed therebetween. In the present modification, the seconddetection electrode TDL2, the first detection electrode TDL1, the dummyelectrode TDLd1, the first detection electrode TDL1, and the seconddetection electrode TDL2 are arranged in this order in the seconddirection Dy.

The detection electrodes TDLA are arrayed in the second direction Dy. Adummy electrode TDLd2 is provided between the detection electrodes TDLAadjacent to each other in the second direction Dy. The order ofarrangement of the electrodes and the number of first detectionelectrodes TDL1 and second detection electrodes TDL2 in one detectionelectrode TDLA may be appropriately changed.

The first detection electrode TDL1 and the second detection electrodeTDL2 are mesh-like wires each including a plurality of first conductivethin wires 33U and a plurality of second conductive thin wires 33V. Thedummy electrode TDLd1 and the dummy electrode TDLd2 are mesh-like wiressimilar to the first detection electrode TDL1 and the second detectionelectrode TDL2. The structure of the electrodes is not limited thereto,and the first detection electrode TDL1, the second detection electrodeTDL2, the dummy electrode TDLd1, and the dummy electrode TDLd2 mayinclude a plurality of zigzag or wavy metal thin wires, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, in the detection electrode TDLA, the firstend of the first detection electrode TDL1 is coupled to the couplingwire 34 a via the thin wire 33 a. A plurality of first detectionelectrodes TDL1 are electrically coupled with the coupling wire 34 a.The first detection electrodes TDL1 are coupled to the first wire 37 avia the coupling wire 34 a and electrically coupled to the terminal 51(refer to FIG. 9). The second end of the first detection electrode TDL1is not provided with the thin wire 33 a and separated from the couplingwire 34 b.

In the detection electrode TDLA, the first end of the second detectionelectrode TDL2 is not provided with the thin wire 33 a and separatedfrom the coupling wire 34 a. The second end of the second detectionelectrode TDL2 is coupled to the coupling wire 34 b via the thin wire 33a. A plurality of second detection electrodes TDL2 are electricallycoupled with the coupling wire 34 b. The second detection electrodesTDL2 are coupled to the second wire 37 b via the coupling wire 34 b andelectrically coupled to the terminal 51 (refer to FIG. 9).

With this configuration, the first wire 37 a is coupled to the first endof one detection electrode TDLA, and the second wire 37 b is coupled tothe second end thereof. The first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b arecoupled to the same one terminal 51 similarly to the example illustratedin FIG. 9. This configuration can secure coupling of the detectionelectrode TDLA to the terminal 51 when either of the first wire 37 a orthe second wire 37 b is broken. Because the number of terminals 51 issmaller than the number of first wires 37 a and second wires 37 b, theconfiguration of the terminals 51 can be simplified. As a result, theconfiguration of the flexible substrate 71 coupled to the terminals 51can also be simplified, thereby reducing the cost.

The first detection electrode TDL1 and the second detection electrodeTDL2 according to the present modification are electrically coupled tothe terminal 51 but separated from each other in the display area 10 a.With this configuration, the circular conductor including the terminal51 (refer to FIG. 9), the first wire 37 a, the detection electrode TDLA,the second wire 37 b, and the terminal 51 does not have a closedcircular form in which all the components are electrically connected ina continuous manner. The circular conductor is open between the firstdetection electrode TDL1 and the second detection electrode TDL2. Thisconfiguration can suppress noise caused by electromagnetic induction.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the terminals according to a second embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 19 is a sectional view along lineXIX1-XIX2 in FIG. 18. In a display apparatus 1E according to the presentembodiment, the configuration of the detection electrodes TDL, the firstwires 37 a, and the second wires 37 b is the same as that of the firstembodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, for example. The display apparatus 1Eincludes first terminals 52A(1), 52A(2), 52A(3), . . . , 52A(n−2),52A(n−1), and 52A(n) and second terminals 52B(1), 52B(2), 52B(3), . . ., 52B(n−2), 52B(n−1), and 52B(n). The n-th first terminal 52A(n) and then-th second terminal 52B(n) are for example provided in correspondencewith the detection electrode TDL(n). In the following description, theterminals described above are referred to as the first terminals 52A andthe second terminals 52B when those need not be distinguished from oneanother.

The first terminals 52A are arrayed in the first direction Dx. Aplurality of second terminals 52B are arrayed in the first direction Dxand face the respective first terminals 52A in the second direction Dy.The first wires 37 a coupled to the first ends of the respectivedetection electrodes TDL are coupled to the respective first terminals52A via the first portions 53. The first wires 37 a are coupled to thefirst ends of the respective first terminals 52A, that is, the ends onthe side opposite to the ends facing the second terminals 52B.

The second wires 37 b coupled to the second ends of the respectivedetection electrodes TDL are coupled to the respective second terminals52B via the second portions 54. The second wires 37 b are coupled to thesecond ends of the respective second terminals 52B, that is, the ends onthe side opposite to the ends facing the first terminals 52A.

With this configuration, the first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 bcoupled to one detection electrode TDL are electrically coupled to apair of the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B,respectively, arranged adjacent to each other in the second directionDy.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the coupling terminal 76 of the flexiblesubstrate 71 is arranged facing the first terminal 52A and the secondterminal 52B. The protective layer 38 covers the first wires 37 a, thesecond wires 37 b, part of the first portion 53, and part of the secondportion 54. The first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B arearranged between facing parts of the protective layer 38. The conductiveadhesive 63 covers the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52Band is arranged overlapping with the ends of the protective layer 38.The first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B are electricallycoupled to the same one coupling terminal 76 via the conductiveparticles 63 a in the conductive adhesive 63. In other words, the firstterminal 52A and the second terminal 52B are electrically coupled withthe conductive adhesive 63 serving as a multilayered conductive layer.As described above, the first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b areelectrically coupled via the first terminal 52A, the coupling terminal76, and the second terminal 52B. In FIG. 19, the conductive particles 63a are provided to the respective terminals of the first terminal 52A andthe second terminal 52B. This is given by way of schematic example only,and a number of conductive particles 63 a are provided in the actualconfiguration.

The present embodiment does not necessarily include the first portion 53and the second portion 54. In this case, the first wire 37 a is coupledto the first end of the first terminal 52A, and the second wire 37 b iscoupled to the second end of the second terminal 52B.

The number of first terminals 52A according to the present embodiment isequal to that of first wires 37 a, and the number of second terminals52B is equal to that of second wires 37 b. While the total number offirst terminals 52A and second terminals 52B increases compared with thefirst embodiment, the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B areelectrically coupled to the same one coupling terminal 76. With thisconfiguration, it is not necessary to increase the number of couplingterminals 76 of the flexible substrate 71 or to electrically couple thefirst wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b in the flexible substrate 71.Consequently, the configuration of the flexible substrate 71 can besimplified.

The first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b according to the presentembodiment are coupled to one detection electrode TDL. Thisconfiguration can increase the reliability of coupling between thedetection electrodes TDL and the flexible substrate 71. The firstterminal 52A is electrically coupled to the first end of one detectionterminal TDL via the first wire 37 a, and the second terminal 52B iscoupled to the second end thereof via the second wire 37 b. With thisconfiguration, the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B can beused as terminals for an electrical characteristics inspection, such asa resistance inspection, for the first wire 37 a and the second wire 37b. By bringing a probe of a measuring instrument into contact with thefirst terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B when the flexiblesubstrate 71 is not coupled thereto, for example, a resistanceinspection and a breaking inspection can be performed on the wires. Anexample of the method for inspecting electrical characteristics will bedescribed later.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a plan view of theterminals according to the third embodiment. In a display apparatus 1Faccording to the present embodiment, wires 37A are coupled to one of theends of the detection electrodes TDL extending in the first directionDx. The wires 37A each include a first wire 37Aa, a second wire 37Ab,and a coupling portion 37Ac. The coupling portion 37Ac is coupled to thecoupling wire 34 a or the coupling wire 34 b of the detection electrodeTDL. The first wire 37Aa is coupled to the coupling portion 37Ac andprovided along the peripheral area 10 b. The second wire 37Ab is coupledto the same coupling portion 37Ac to which the first wire 37Aa iscoupled, and provided along the first wire 37Aa.

The configuration of the detection electrodes TDL is the same as thatillustrated in FIG. 6. The detection electrode TDL extends in the firstdirection Dx and a plurality of detection electrodes TDL are arrayed inthe second direction Dy. The wires 37A are arranged in a manneralternately coupled to the ends of the detection electrodes TDL arrayedin the second direction Dy. The wires 37A, for example, are coupled tothe first ends of the detection electrodes TDL(1), TDL(3), . . . , andTDL(n−1) via the respective coupling wires 34 a. The wires 37A arecoupled to the second ends of the detection electrodes TDL(2), . . . ,TDL(n−2), and TDL(n) via the respective coupling wires 34 b.

As described above, the first wire 37Aa and the second wire 37Ab arecoupled to the first end or the second end of one detection terminalTDL. This configuration can increase the reliability of coupling betweenthe detection electrodes TDL and the flexible substrate 71.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, the first terminals 52A(1), 52A(2), . . . ,and 52A(n) are arrayed in the first direction Dx. The second terminals52B(1), 52B(2), . . . , and 52B(n) are arranged adjacent to the firstterminals 52A(1), 52A(2), . . . , and 52A(n), respectively, in thesecond direction Dy. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the positions of thedetection electrodes TDL to which the wires 37A are coupled arealternately shifted. With this configuration, the first terminal 52A(1)and the second terminal 52B(1), for example, correspond to the detectionelectrode TDL(1) illustrated in FIG. 20. The first terminal 52A(2) andthe second terminal 52B(2) correspond to the detection electrode TDL(3)illustrated in FIG. 20. The first terminal 52A(n) and the secondterminal 52B(n) correspond to the detection electrode TDL(2) illustratedin FIG. 20.

The first wire 37Aa is coupled to the first end of the first terminal52A. The second end of the first terminal 52A faces the first end of thesecond terminal 52B. The second wire 37Ab is provided along one side ofthe first terminal 52A and coupled to the first end of the secondterminal 52B. The second wire 37Ab coupled to the detection electrodeTDL(3) illustrated in FIG. 20, for example, passes through a gap betweenthe first terminal 52A(1) and the first terminal 52A(2) adjacent to eachother in the first direction Dx and is coupled to the second terminal52B(2).

Similarly to the example illustrated in FIG. 19, the first terminal 52Aand the second terminal 52B are coupled to the same one couplingterminal 76 of the flexible substrate 71. With this configuration, thefirst wire 37Aa and the second wire 37Ab are electrically coupled viathe first terminal 52A, the coupling terminal 76, and the secondterminal 52B. The conductive adhesive 63 according to the presentembodiment covers not only the first terminals 52A and the secondterminals 52B but also the second wires 37Ab positioned between thefirst terminals 52A. With the ACF used as the conductive adhesive 63,the second wire 37Ab and the first terminal 52A are not electricallyconnected. The second wire 37Ab and the first terminal 52A areelectrically connected via the coupling terminal 76 of the flexiblesubstrate 71. The first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B areelectrically coupled with the conductive adhesive 63 serving as amultilayered conductive layer.

A width W2 of the first terminal 52A is 150 μm, for example. A length L2of the first terminal 52A and a length L3 of the second terminal 52B inthe second direction Dy are 150 μm to 200 μm, specifically 175 μm, forexample. A width W3 of the first wire 37Aa and a width W4 of the secondwire 37Ab are 5 μm, for example. A distance d1 between the firstterminal 52A and the second wire 37Ab in the first direction Dx is 50μm, for example. A distance d2 between the first terminal 52A and thesecond wire 37Ab in the first direction Dx is 5 μm, for example. Adistance d3 between the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52Bin the second direction Dy is 5 μm, for example.

With this configuration, the first terminal 52A is electrically coupledto the second terminal 52B via the first wire 37Aa, the detectionelectrode TDL, and the second wire 37Ab when the flexible substrate 71is not coupled to the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B.Also in the present embodiment, the first terminal 52A and the secondterminal 52B can be used as terminals for an electrical characteristicsinspection for the first wire 37Aa and the second wire 37Ab.

The present embodiment may include the first portion 53 and the secondportion 54. In this case, the first wire 37Aa is coupled to the firstend of the first terminal 52A via the first portion 53, and the secondwire 37Ab is coupled to the first end of the second terminal 52B via thesecond portion 54.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 is a plan view of thedetection electrodes according to the fourth embodiment. As illustratedin FIG. 22, detection electrodes TDLB in a display apparatus 1Gaccording to the present embodiment each include a third detectionelectrode TDL3 and a fourth detection electrode TDL4. The thirddetection electrode TDL3 extends in the second direction Dy. The fourthdetection electrode TDL4 is provided along the third detection electrodeTDL3. The first end of the third detection electrode TDL3 is coupled tothe first end of the fourth detection electrode TDL4 via a coupling wire34 c. The second end of the third detection electrode TDL3 is coupled toa first wire 37 f via a coupling wire 34 d. The second end of the fourthdetection electrode TDL4 is coupled to a second wire 37 g via a couplingwire 34 e.

As described above, one detection electrode TDLB has a U-shape as awhole including the coupling wire 34 d, the third detection electrodeTDL3, the coupling wire 34 c, the fourth detection electrode TDL4, andthe coupling wire 34 e. One detection electrode TDLB extends in thesecond direction Dy as a whole. A plurality of detection electrodes TDLBare arrayed in the first direction Dx. The present embodiment furtherincludes the drive electrode COML illustrated in FIG. 5, which is notillustrated in FIG. 22, extending in the first direction Dx and aplurality of drive electrodes COML are arrayed in the second directionDy. In other words, the drive electrodes COML are provided along thegate lines GCL illustrated in FIG. 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, the third detection electrode TDL3 is amesh-like wire including a plurality of third conductive thin wires 33Sand a plurality of fourth conductive thin wires 33T. The thirdconductive thin wires 33S and the fourth conductive thin wires 33Textend in different directions. The third conductive thin wires 33S andthe fourth conductive thin wires 33T are made of the same material asthat of the first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductivethin wires 33V. Similarly to the third detection electrode TDL3, thefourth detection electrode TDL4 is a mesh-like wire including the thirdconductive thin wires 33S and the fourth conductive thin wires 33T.

The coupling wires 34 c, 34 d, and 34 e are mesh-like wires having aplurality of conductive thin wires similarly to the third detectionelectrode TDL3 and the fourth detection electrode TDL4.

While the coupling wires 34 c, 34 d, and 34 e are provided to theperipheral area 10 b, the configuration is not limited thereto. Part orthe whole of the coupling wires 34 c, 34 d, and 34 e may be provided tothe display area 10 a. The coupling wires 34 c, 34 d, and 34 e may havefunctions as detection electrodes.

In one detection electrode TDLB, a dummy electrode TDLd3 is provided inthe area surrounded by the third detection electrode TDL3, the fourthdetection electrode TDL4, and the coupling wires 34 c, 34 d, and 34 e. Adummy electrode TDLd4 is provided between adjacent detection electrodesTDLB. The dummy electrodes TDLd3 and TDLd4 are mesh-like wires having aplurality of conductive thin wires similarly to the third detectionelectrode TDL3 and the fourth detection electrode TDL4. Thisconfiguration can suppress variations in the translucency in the displayarea 10 a and provide high visibility.

The third detection electrode TDL3, the fourth detection electrode TDL4,the coupling wires 34 c, 34 d, and 34 e, and the dummy electrodes TDLd3and TDLd4 may include a plurality of zigzag or wavy metal thin wires.

The first wire 37 f according to the present embodiment is coupled tothe first terminal 52A, and the second wire 37 g is coupled to thesecond terminal 52B. Similarly to the example illustrated in FIG. 19,the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B are coupled to theone coupling terminal 76 via the conductive adhesive 63. With thisconfiguration, the third detection electrode TDL3 and the fourthdetection electrode TDL4 are electrically coupled via the first terminal52A, the coupling terminal 76, and the second terminal 52B.Consequently, the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B can beused as terminals for an electrical characteristics inspection when theflexible substrate 71 is not coupled thereto.

The present embodiment may include the first portion 53 and the secondportion 54. In this case, the first wire 37 f is coupled to the firstend of the first terminal 52A via the first portion 53, and the secondwire 37 g is coupled to the first end of the second terminal 52B via thesecond portion 54.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the second substrate according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 is a sectional view of aschematic sectional structure of the display apparatus according to thefifth embodiment. FIG. 26 is a plan view of the terminals according tothe fifth embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, a display apparatus 1H according to thepresent embodiment includes a plurality of rectangular detectionelectrodes TDLC(1), (2), . . . , (n−1), and (n), first wires 37Ba, andsecond wires 37Bb. In the following description, the detectionelectrodes TDLC(1), (2), . . . , (n−1), and (n) are referred to as thedetection electrodes TDLC when those need not be distinguished from oneanother. The detection electrodes TDLC are arranged in a matrix(row-column configuration) in the display area 10 a of the secondsubstrate 31. In other words, the detection electrodes TDLC are arrayedin the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy. As illustrated inFIG. 24, pairs of the first wire 37Ba and the second wire 37Bb arecoupled to the respective detection electrodes TDLC. The pairs of thefirst wire 37Ba and the second wire 37Bb are extracted to the peripheralarea 10 b and coupled to respective terminals 51B. The detectionelectrodes TDLC are made of a translucent conductive material, such asITO.

The display apparatus 1H according to the present embodiment performsdetection based on the basic principle of self-capacitance touchdetection described above. In this case, when the drive signals Vcom aresupplied to the respective detection electrodes TDLC via the first wires37Ba and the second wires 37Bb, the detection electrodes TDLC output thedetection signals Vdet based on a change in capacitance of the detectionelectrodes TDLC to the detection device 40. The detection is performedon the detection electrodes TDLC arranged in a matrix (row-columndirection), whereby the coordinate extractor 45 can detect the touchcoordinates.

The detection may be performed on the detection electrodes TDLCsimultaneously or in a predetermined order. As illustrated in FIG. 24, aplurality of detection electrodes TDLC arrayed in the first direction Dxmay be determined to be a detection electrode block BK, and thedetection may be collectively performed on the detection electrode blockBK. In this case, the detection electrode block BK may serve as onedetection electrode, thereby performing the mutual capacitance touchdetection described above.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, the first wires 37Ba are provided on the sidecloser to the second substrate 31 than the detection electrodes TDLCwith an insulating layer 38 b interposed therebetween. The detectionelectrodes TDLC are covered with an insulating layer 38 a. The firstwires 37Ba are electrically coupled to the respective detectionelectrodes TDLC via contact holes formed in the insulating layer 38 b.While the second wires 37Bb are not illustrated in FIG. 25, those areprovided to the same layer as that of the first wires 37Ba. The secondwires 37Bb are electrically coupled to the respective detectionelectrodes TDLC via contact holes formed in the insulating layer 38 b.

The configuration is not limited thereto, and the first wires 37Ba andthe second wires 37Bb may be provided to a layer farther from the secondsubstrate 31 than the detection electrodes TDLC. Alternatively, thefirst wires 37Ba and the second wires 37Bb may be provided to the samelayer as that of the detection electrodes TDLC.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, a plurality of terminals 51B are provided incorrespondence with the respective detection electrodes TDLC in theperipheral area 10 b. The terminals 51B each have a rectangular shapethe long side of which extends along the second direction Dy and arearrayed in the first direction Dx. The detection electrodes TDLC and theterminals 51B are provided in one-to-one correspondence. As illustratedin FIG. 24, the terminal 51B(1) is, for example, provided incorrespondence with the detection electrode TDLC(1). Similarly, theterminal 51B(2) is provided in correspondence with the detectionelectrode TDLC(2), the terminal 51B(n−1) is provided in correspondencewith the detection electrode TDLC(n−1), and the terminal 51B(n) isprovided in correspondence with the detection electrode TDLC(n). Theterminals 51B(1), 51B(2), 51B(n−1), and 51B(n) are referred to as theterminals 51B when those need not be distinguished from one another.

Also in the present embodiment, the first wire 37Ba and the second wire37Bb coupled to one detection electrode TDLC are coupled to the same oneterminal 51B. The first wires 37Ba, for example, are coupled to thefirst ends of the respective terminals 51B, and the second wires 37Bbare coupled to the second ends of the respective terminals 51B. Thefirst wire 37Ba and the second wire 37Bb coupled to the detectionelectrode TDLC(1), for example, are coupled to the first end and thesecond end, respectively, of the terminal 51B(1). This configuration isalso employed for the detection electrodes TDLC(2) to TDLC(n). While thefirst wires 37Ba and the second wires 37Bb are arranged in the displayarea 10 a in FIG. 24, part of them may be arranged in the peripheralarea 10 b.

With this configuration, the first wire 37Ba and the second wire 37Bbcoupled to the detection electrode TDLC are electrically coupled to thecoupling terminal 76 of the flexible substrate 71 (refer to FIG. 10) viathe same one terminal 51B. With this configuration, the number ofterminals 51B is smaller than the total number of first wires 37Ba andsecond wires 37Bb. When one of the first wire 37Ba and the second wire37Bb coupled to the same terminal 51B is broken, the other thereofremains coupled to the terminal 51B. This configuration can prevent thewires from being completely broken between the detection electrode TDLCand the terminal 51B.

The present embodiment may include the first portion 53 and the secondportion 54 (refer to FIG. 12). In this case, the first wire 37Ba iscoupled to the first end of the first terminal 51B via the first portion53, and the second wire 37Bb is coupled to the second end of the firstterminal 51B via the second portion 54.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of the second substrate according to amodification of the fifth embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 27, adisplay apparatus 1I according to the present modification includes aguard ring 58A in the peripheral area 10 b of the second substrate 31.The guard ring 58A has a circular shape surrounding the detectionelectrodes TDLC, wires 37, and the terminals 51B. One end and the otherend of the guard ring 58A are coupled to one terminal 51B. The guardring 58A, for example, is electrically coupled to the ground via theflexible substrate 71 and grounded.

One end and the other end of the guard ring 58A according to the presentmodification are coupled to the same one terminal 51B. With thisconfiguration, at least one terminal can be omitted. The wires 37 areprovided on the inner side than the guard ring 58A. This configurationcan suppress breaking of the wires 37. The wires 37 according to thepresent modification are coupled to the respective detection electrodesTDLC. The wires 37 are extracted to the peripheral area 10 b and coupledto the respective terminals 51B. The configuration is not limitedthereto, and the pairs of the first wire 37Ba and the second wire 37Bbmay be coupled to the respective detection electrodes TDLC asillustrated in FIG. 24.

Resistance Inspection Method

The following describes an example of a resistance inspection methodusing the first terminals 52A and the second terminals 52B. FIG. 28 is adiagram for explaining an example of the resistance inspection methodfor the display apparatus. FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining detectionof deviation. FIG. 30 is a flowchart of an example of the resistanceinspection method. FIG. 31 is a table of an example of resistanceinspection items and determination results.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, the electric resistance between the firstterminal 52A and the second terminal 52B facing each other is measuredby bringing a detection probe 101 of a resistance measurement apparatusinto contact with the first terminal 52A and the second terminal 52B. Inother words, the total of resistances of the first wire 37 a, thedetection electrode TDL (refer to FIG. 6 and other figures), and thesecond wire 37 b are measured. In the first terminals 52A and the secondterminals 52B illustrated in FIG. 28, the second wires 37 b are coupledto the second ends of the respective second terminals 52B, that is, theends on the side opposite to the ends facing the first terminals 52A asdescribed in the second embodiment. The configuration is not limitedthereto. Similarly, the resistance inspection may be performed on theconfiguration in which the second wires 37 b are coupled to the firstends of the respective second terminals 52B, that is, the ends facingthe first terminals 52A as described in the third or the fourthembodiment.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 28, a terminal 52Aa is provided sideby side with the first terminal 52A(3). The first terminal 52A(3) iselectrically coupled to the terminal 52Aa via a coupling portion 52Ab. Aterminal 52Ba is provided side by side with the second terminal 52B(3).The second terminal 52B(3) is electrically coupled to the terminal 52Bavia a coupling portion 52Bb.

The resistance between the first terminal 52A(3) and the terminal 52Aais measured by bringing the detection probe 101 into contact with thefirst terminal 52A(3) and the terminal 52Aa. Similarly, the resistancebetween the second terminal 52B(3) and the terminal 52Ba is measured. Ifthe resistances are 0, it is determined that the detection probe 101 isbrought into contact with the first terminals 52A and the secondterminals 52B without any deviation and that the resistance can becorrectly measured. Alternatively, contact resistance between thedetection probe 101 and the first terminals 52A and contact resistancebetween the detection probe 101 and the second terminals 52B can bemeasured.

The first terminals 52A is arranged facing the respective secondterminals 52B, and the pairs of the first terminal 52A and the secondterminal 52B facing each other are arrayed. This configuration enablesthe detection of deviation of the detection probe 101 with respect tothe first terminals 52A and the second terminals 52B. As illustrated inFIG. 29, the detection probe 101 may possibly be arranged in a mannerinclined with respect to the array direction of the first terminals 52Aand the second terminals 52B, that is, the first direction Dx.

In this case, the resistances between the first terminal 52A(1) and thesecond terminal 52B(1), between the first terminal 52A(2) and the secondterminal 52B(2), and between the first terminal 52A(3) and the secondterminal 52B(3) fail to be detected. By contrast, the resistancesbetween the first terminal 52A(n−1) and the second terminal 52B(n−1) andbetween the first terminal 52A(n) and the second terminal 52B(n) can bedetected. If the resistance fails to be detected from a predeterminednumber or more of first terminals 52A and second terminals 52B, it isdetermined that the inclination of the detection probe 101 deviates.

As illustrated in FIG. 30, the resistance inspection is performed oneach terminal. In FIGS. 30 and 31, the first terminal 52A(1) and thesecond terminal 52B(1) are collectively referred to as a “terminal (1)”,and the first terminal 52A(n) and the second terminal 52B(n) arecollectively referred to as a “terminal (n)”, for example. Asillustrated in FIG. 30, determination of a resistance inspection resultis performed on the terminal (1) (Step ST1). If the resistance fallswithin a reference value (Yes at Step ST1), the terminal (1) isdetermined to be “OK”, and determination of the next terminal (2) isperformed (Step ST2). If the resistance is out of the reference value(No at Step ST1), the detection apparatus 30 is determined not to be anon-defective product (“OUT”), and the resistance inspection isfinished. The process described above is repeatedly performed from theterminal (1) to the terminal (n) (Step ST1 to Step STn). If all theterminals are “determined to be OK”, the detection apparatus 30 isdetermined to be a non-defective product in which neither the wires northe detection electrodes TDL are broken (“OK”), and the inspection isfinished.

As illustrated in the table in FIG. 31, for example, the resistanceinspection is to perform determination on the upper limit (kΩ) of theresistance and ΔR in the terminals. “ΔR” indicates difference betweenthe resistance of the terminal (n) and the resistance of the terminal(n+1), for example. As illustrated in FIG. 31, ΔR of the terminal (1) isexpressed by ΔR=a₁−a₂ where a₁ is the upper limit of the terminal (1),and a₂ is the upper limit of the terminal (2) in a standard. Asdescribed above, the distances from the respective detection electrodesTDL to the terminal (1), . . . , and the terminal (n) are different,whereby the upper limits and ΔR of the respective terminals aredifferent. These standard values (a₁, a₂, . . . , a_(n), and b₁, b₂, . .. , b_(n)) are stored in a resistance inspection apparatus in advance.The resistance inspection apparatus compares the standard values withactual values (c₁, c₂, . . . , c_(n), and d₁, d₂, . . . , d_(n)),thereby performing determination on the respective terminals. Asillustrated in the table, determination is performed on the upper limitsand ΔR of the terminal (1) to the terminal (n).

In the example illustrated in FIG. 30, if any one of the terminals isdetermined to be NG, the measurement is finished. The present inventionis not limited thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 31, the tendency of “OK”and “NG” may be checked after the determination is performed on all theterminals. In the example illustrated in FIG. 31, both of the upperlimit and ΔR of the terminal (1) are “OK”. The upper limit of theterminal (2) is “OK”, but ΔR thereof is “NG”. The upper limit of theterminal (n) is “NG”, but ΔR thereof is “OK”.

FIG. 32 is a plan view for explaining a second example of the resistanceinspection method. FIG. 33 is a sectional view for explaining the secondexample of the resistance inspection method. In the example illustratedin FIGS. 28 to 31, the resistance inspection apparatus detects the totalof resistances of the first wire 37 a, the detection electrode TDL, andthe second wire 37 b to determine whether the terminal is OK or NG. Inthe present modification, a non-contact probe 110 is used to detectwhether a failure, such as breaking, occurs at any point in the firstwires 37 a and the second wires 37 b.

The non-contact probe 110 detects the voltage value or the current valueof the detection electrodes TDL based on a change in capacitancegenerated between the non-contact probe 110 and the detection electrodesTDL. As illustrated in FIG. 33, the non-contact probe 110 is arrangedabove the detection electrodes TDL in a non-contact manner with theprotective layer 38 interposed therebetween. As illustrated in FIG. 32,the non-contact probe 110 is preferably arranged at the center of thedetection electrodes TDL in the first direction Dx. This arrangement canreduce errors between the detection values of the first wires 37 a andthe detection values of the second wires 37 b, thereby performingaccurate detection. The non-contact probe 110 is arranged above thedetection electrodes TDL arrayed in the second direction Dy.

As illustrated in FIG. 32, the resistance inspection apparatus comparesdetection signals detected by the non-contact probe 110 between a casewhere an input signal Vin1 is transmitted from a power source 111 to thefirst terminal 52A and a case where an input signal Vin2 is transmittedto the second terminal 52B. As a result, the resistance inspectionapparatus can detect the position of breaking. If any one of the secondwires 37 b is broken, for example, the non-contact probe 110 detects nodetection signal in response to the input signal Vin2.

Alternatively, the non-contact probe 110 may be moved in a state where apredetermined input signal is received to identify the position ofbreaking based on a change in the detection signals.

The resistance inspection methods described above are given by way ofexample only. Other inspection items may be added, and the inspectionmethod may be appropriately changed.

While exemplary embodiments according to the present invention have beendescribed, the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. Thecontents disclosed in the embodiments are given by way of example only,and various modifications may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention. Appropriate changes made without departing from thespirit of the invention naturally fall within the scope of theinvention. At least one of various omissions, substitutions, and changesof the components may be made without departing from the spirit of theembodiments above and the modifications thereof.

The configurations according to the modifications of the firstembodiment, for example, may include the first terminals and the secondterminals as described in the second to the fourth embodiments. In theconfigurations according to the third and the fourth embodiments, thefirst wire and the second wire may be coupled to one terminal. The shapeand the size of the terminals are given by way of example only and maybe appropriately changed. While the embodiments have described thedetection electrodes TDL, the first wire and the second wire may becoupled to one drive electrode COML and to one terminal. Alternatively,the first wire coupled to a drive electrode COML may be coupled to thefirst terminal, and the second wire coupled to the drive electrode COMLmay be coupled to the second terminal.

The detection apparatus and the display apparatus according to thepresent disclosure may have the following aspects, for example.

-   (1) A detection apparatus includes a substrate, a display area, a    peripheral area provided outside the display area, a plurality of    electrodes provided to the display area and on a surface of the    substrate, a plurality of terminals provided in correspondence with    the respective electrodes in the peripheral area, a first wire that    couples a respective electrode of the electrodes to a respective    terminal of the terminals, and a second wire that couples the    respective electrode to the respective terminal to which the first    wire is coupled.-   (2) In the detection apparatus according to (1), the plurality of    electrodes extend in a first direction and arrayed in a second    direction intersecting with the first direction, the plurality of    terminals are arrayed in the first direction, the first wire couples    a first end of the respective electrode to a first end of the    respective terminal in the second direction, and the second wire    couples a second end of the respective electrode to a second end of    the respective terminal.-   (3) In the detection apparatus according to (2), the plurality of    terminals have different lengths in the second direction.-   (4) In the detection apparatus according to (2) or (3), the    plurality of terminals have different lengths in the first    direction.-   (5) In the detection apparatus according to (1) or (2), the first    wire and the second wire are coupled to at least the electrode    positioned farthest from the terminal out of the electrodes.-   (6) A detection apparatus includes a substrate, a display area, a    peripheral area provided outside the display area, a plurality of    electrodes provided to the display area and on a surface of the    substrate, first terminals and second terminals provided in    correspondence with the respective electrodes in the peripheral    area, a first wire that couples a respective electrode of the    plurality of electrodes to one of the first terminals, and a second    wire that couples the respective electrode to one of the second    terminals. The first terminals are arrayed in a first direction, and    the second terminals are arranged facing the first terminals in a    second direction intersecting with the first direction.-   (7) In the detection apparatus according to (6), the plurality of    electrodes extend in the first direction and the plurality of    electrodes are arrayed in the second direction intersecting with the    first direction.-   (8) In the detection apparatus according to (6) or (7), the first    terminal and the second terminal are electrically coupled with a    multilayered conductive layer.-   (9) In the detection apparatus according to (6) to (8), the first    terminal and the second terminal are electrically coupled to a    coupling terminal of a flexible substrate.-   (10) In the detection apparatus according to (6) to (9), the first    wire couples a first end of the respective electrode to the first    terminal, and the second wire couples a second end of the respective    electrode to the second terminal.-   (11) In the detection apparatus according to (6) to (9), the first    wire and the second wire are coupled to one end of the respective    electrode.-   (12) In the detection apparatus according to (11), the second wire    passes through a gap between the arrayed first terminals and is    coupled to the second terminal.-   (13) In the detection apparatus according to (11) or (12), the first    wire is provided along the second wire in the peripheral area.-   (14) In the detection apparatus according to (2) or (6), the    plurality of electrodes each include a first electrode and a second    electrode, the first electrode extends in the first direction and is    coupled to the first wire at a first end, and the second electrode    extends along the first wire and is coupled to the second wire at a    second end.-   (15) In the detection apparatus according to (14), the first    electrodes and the second electrodes are provided in the second    direction. The detection apparatus includes a first coupling wire    that couples the first electrodes to the first wire, and a second    coupling wire that couples the second electrodes to the second wire.-   (16) In the detection apparatus according to (1) or (6), the    plurality of electrodes are arrayed in the first direction and each    provided along the second direction intersecting with the first    direction, the plurality of electrodes each include a first    electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second    electrode are provided along the second direction side by side and    electrically coupled at a first end, the first wire is coupled to a    second end of the first electrode, and the second wire is coupled to    a second end of the second electrode.-   (17) The detection apparatus according to any one of (1) to (16)    further includes a dummy electrode provided between the electrodes    adjacent to each other with a gap interposed between the electrodes    and the dummy electrode, the dummy electrode being not electrically    coupled to the electrodes, the first wire, or the second wire.-   (18) In the detection apparatus according to any one of (1) to (17),    the electrodes each include a first conductive thin wire and a    second conductive thin wire extending in different directions.-   (19) A display apparatus includes the detection apparatus according    to any one of (1) to (18) and

a display functional layer that displays an image on the display area.

The detection apparatus and the display apparatus according to thepresent disclosure may further have the following aspect.

-   (20) In the detection apparatus according to (1),

the electrodes are arrayed in a matrix, and

the first wires and the second wires are coupled to the respectiveelectrodes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A detection apparatus comprising: a substrate; adisplay area; a peripheral area provided outside the display area; aplurality of electrodes provided to the display area and on a surface ofthe substrate; a plurality of terminals provided in correspondence withthe respective electrodes in the peripheral area; a first wire thatcouples a respective electrode of the electrodes to a respectiveterminal of the terminals; and a second wire that couples the respectiveelectrode to the respective terminal to which the first wire is coupled,wherein the plurality of terminals, the first wire, and the second wireare provided on the substrate, the first wire is coupled to a first endin a longitudinal direction of the respective terminal, and the secondwire is coupled to a second end in the longitudinal direction of therespective terminal, the second end being on the opposite side of thefirst end.
 2. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of electrodes extend in a first direction and arrayed in asecond direction intersecting with the first direction, the plurality ofterminals are arrayed in the first direction, the first wire couples afirst end of the respective electrode to the first end of the respectiveterminal in the second direction, and the second wire couples a secondend of the respective electrode to the second end of the respectiveterminal.
 3. The detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theplurality of terminals have different lengths in the second direction.4. The detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pluralityof terminals have different lengths in the first direction.
 5. Thedetection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wire and thesecond wire are coupled to at least the electrode positioned farthestfrom the terminal out of the electrodes.
 6. A detection apparatuscomprising: a substrate; a display area; a peripheral area providedoutside the display area; a plurality of electrodes provided to thedisplay area and on a surface of the substrate; first terminals andsecond terminals provided in correspondence with the respectiveelectrodes in the peripheral area; a first wire that couples arespective electrode of the plurality of electrodes to one of the firstterminals; and a second wire that couples the respective electrode toone of the second terminals, wherein the first terminals are arrayed ina first direction, the second terminals are arranged facing the firstterminals in a second direction intersecting with the first direction,and the first terminals, the second terminals, the first wire and thesecond wire are provided on the substrate.
 7. The detection apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the plurality of electrodes extend in thefirst direction and the plurality of electrodes are arrayed in thesecond direction intersecting with the first direction.
 8. The detectionapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first terminal and thesecond terminal are electrically coupled with a multilayered conductivelayer.
 9. The detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein thefirst terminal and the second terminal are electrically coupled to acoupling terminal of a flexible substrate.
 10. The detection apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the first wire couples a first end of therespective electrode to the first terminal, and the second wire couplesa second end of the respective electrode to the second terminal.
 11. Thedetection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first wire and thesecond wire are coupled to one end of the respective electrode.
 12. Thedetection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second wirepasses through a gap between the arrayed first terminals and is coupledto the second terminal.
 13. The detection apparatus according to claim11, wherein the first wire is provided along the second wire in theperipheral area.
 14. The detection apparatus according to claim 6,wherein the plurality of electrodes each include a first electrode and asecond electrode, the first electrode extends in the first direction andis coupled to the first wire at a first end, and the second electrodeextends along the first wire and is coupled to the second wire at asecond end.
 15. The detection apparatus according to claim 14, whereinthe first electrodes and the second electrodes are provided in thesecond direction, the detection apparatus comprising a first couplingwire that couples the first electrodes to the first wire, and a secondcoupling wire that couples the second electrodes to the second wire. 16.The detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality ofelectrodes are arrayed in the first direction and each provided alongthe second direction intersecting with the first direction, theplurality of electrodes each include a first electrode and a secondelectrode, the first electrode and the second electrode are providedalong the second direction side by side and electrically coupled at afirst end, the first wire is coupled to a second end of the firstelectrode, and the second wire is coupled to a second end of the secondelectrode.
 17. The detection apparatus according to claim 6, furthercomprising a dummy electrode provided between the electrodes adjacent toeach other with a gap interposed between the electrodes and the dummyelectrode, the dummy electrode being not electrically coupled to theelectrodes, the first wire, or the second wire.
 18. The detectionapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the electrodes each include afirst conductive thin wire and a second conductive thin wire extendingin different directions.
 19. A display apparatus comprising: thedetection apparatus according to claim 1; and a display functional layerthat displays an image on the display area.